Index.



No. 7l7,l45. Patented Dec. 30, |902.

H. J. VAN GELDER.

IN D EX.

(Application filed Apr. 9, 1902.) (No Model.)

UNITnD STI-Vries PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J. VAN GELDER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

INDEX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,145, dated December 30, 1902.

Application filed April 9, 1902. Serial No. 102,011. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ wir/0m, t nuty concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. VAN GELDER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, in the city and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Indexes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in indexes, and has for its object to provide an index comprising a back plate having a plurality of ribs thereon forming pockets for receiving reference -slips and a transparent front plate engaging said ribs for holding the slips in position, the mouths of the pockets being open at the sides of the index for facilitating the insertion and removal of the said reference-slips.

The index is more particularly intended for use as a perpetual reference and telephone index in which persons7 names and their telephone-numbers can be placed upon slips or cards, which slips or cards may be inserted into and removed from the index as required to keep the index at all times up to date and accurate.

A further object is to provide an index of the above character which will be extremely simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and attractive in appearance, the reference-slips at the same time being protected from dust and dirt.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a front view of myimproved index, and Fig. 2 is an edge View of the same.

The index comprises a back plate l and a transparent front plate 2. The back plate l is preferably made of sheet metal, and it has a plurality of horizontal or transverse ribs 3 struck therefrom, extending from side to side of the plate, anda centrally-arran ged vertical rib 4., extending from the bottom of the plate to a point near the top of the same. These cross-ribs form two vertical series of pockets 5 and 6, having their mouths open through the sides ofthe plate. The transparent front plate 2 is held snugly in engagement with the ribs 3 and 4 for holding the reference-slips 7 in the pockets 5 and 6. This transparent front plate 2 is preferably secured to the back plate by means of tongues struck from the back plate and overlapping the top and bottom edges of the said transparent front plate. In the present instance the tongue 8 for holding the bottom of the transparent front plate is formed by bending the bottom of the plate upwardly the entire width of the plate, thus forming a groove 9, within which the bottom edge of the plate rests. The top edge of the transparent front plate is shown in the present instance as being heldin position by a plurality of tongues lO, struck from the body of the sheet-metal back plate 1 and bent over the top of the said transparent front plate.

The back plate l may be left free from pockets a distance downwardly from the top, if desired, for the purpose of placing instructions, advertisements, or other printed matter thereon.

TheV index may he provided with means for suspending it upon any suitable support, as by providing the index with one or more holes ll therethrough near its top.

If it is desired to strengthen the back plate along its side edges to prevent the buckling of the same, I may provide the back plate with two strips l2 of sheet metal, which may be soldered or otherwise secured along the rear face of the back plate adjacent to its sides.

It will be seen that the index constructed as above described is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture. It will further be seen that the use of cleats is entirely done away with, as the transparent front plate serves not only to protect the face of the reference slips from dust and dirt, but also serves to hold the said referenceslips in their respective pockets. These reference slips may be inserted or removed from the open mouths of the pockets at the sides of the index, as desired.

What I claim isl. An index comprising a plate of malleable metal struck up throughout its body portion into the form of ribs to form the two sides and an end wall of each of a series of pockets and provided with holding tongues or lips projecting from its face and a transparent plate covering the said ribs to complete the series of pockets open at the edges for the in- IOO sertion of reference-slips, the said front plate being held in position by the aforesaid tongues' beingheldin position bythe aforesaid tongues or lips, and strengthening-strips secured to or lips. the back of the thin malleable metal plate. 15

2. An index comprisinga thin plate of mal- In testimony that I claim' the foregoing as 5 leable metal struck up throughout its body my invention Ihave signed my name, in presportion into the form of ribs to form the tWo l ence of two Witnesses, this 7th day of April,

sides and an end Wall of each of arseries of 1902.

pockets and provided with holding tongues T or lips projecting from its face, a transparent HENR J VAN GELDER ro plate covering the said ribs to complete the Witnesses:

series of pockets open at the edges for the in- FREDK. HAYNES,

sertion of reference-slips, the said front plate HENRY THIEME. 

